In August 2008 median home price sales in Bakersfield were $191,088. this represents a 35% decrease from August 2007´s median home sales price of $290,552. There were a total of 592 houses sold in August 2008 which is a 187% increase from August 2007's sales of 315, the highest price home sold for $925,000. and the lowest home sold was $26,000.
Certain sections of the city experienced an increase in both sales and average selling price while other areas had a decrease in sales and average selling price. It is a great time to buy if you know where to look, as a real estate expert in the Bakersfield market, I'm here to help you find a great property at a great price, please contact me today for an up to date market report.
As for my team and I we are happy to report more positive news as well. 2007´s year to date numbers for the end of August came in at 11 homes sold totaling $2,956,225. Closeout for the month of August 2008, we are at 45 homes sold with a total of $8,961,408. which gives us a 303% increase in home sales so far this year!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
July 2008 market update ... Lookin' Good!
And were off to a great start for the fourth quarter,
Here we are more than half way through the year and we are deffinitely gearing up for a busy fall season. There are some great deals to be had out there and many say the market is still under-valued. In July 2008 median home price sales in Bakersfield were $214,536. this represents a 32% decrease from July 2007´s median home sales price of $314,983. There were a total of 498 houses sold in the month of July 2008 which is a 157% increase from July 2008's sales, the highest price home sold for $1,150,000. and the lowest home sold was $31,000.
As for my team and I we are happy to report more positive news as well. 2007´s year to date numbers came in at 11 homes sold totaling $2,956,225., so far as of the end of July 2008, we are at 39 homes sold with a total of $7,804,520. which gives us a 264% increase in home sales so far this year!
The time to buy is now and there are still some great deals in Bakersfield but you need a local market expert to help you find just the right one. My team and I are experienced real estate professional´s who have several years of home buying and selling experience in the Bakersfield & Kern County area. For true local and knowledgeable service in the Bakersfield, CA real estate market, contact me directly at 661-444-7700.
Here we are more than half way through the year and we are deffinitely gearing up for a busy fall season. There are some great deals to be had out there and many say the market is still under-valued. In July 2008 median home price sales in Bakersfield were $214,536. this represents a 32% decrease from July 2007´s median home sales price of $314,983. There were a total of 498 houses sold in the month of July 2008 which is a 157% increase from July 2008's sales, the highest price home sold for $1,150,000. and the lowest home sold was $31,000.
As for my team and I we are happy to report more positive news as well. 2007´s year to date numbers came in at 11 homes sold totaling $2,956,225., so far as of the end of July 2008, we are at 39 homes sold with a total of $7,804,520. which gives us a 264% increase in home sales so far this year!
The time to buy is now and there are still some great deals in Bakersfield but you need a local market expert to help you find just the right one. My team and I are experienced real estate professional´s who have several years of home buying and selling experience in the Bakersfield & Kern County area. For true local and knowledgeable service in the Bakersfield, CA real estate market, contact me directly at 661-444-7700.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
April foreclosures and pre-foreclosures drop
The nation’s foreclosure hemorrhage slowed a bit in April, according to a Central Valley-based foreclosure information company.
Lenders repossessed 74,570 homes following foreclosure in April, down more than 5 percent from March, according to figures from Foreclosures.com of Fair Oaks. April pre-foreclosures dropped 7.52 percent from March.
“The sky isn’t falling and the bottom of the housing market is in sight,” says Alexis McGee, president of Foreclosures.com.
The company bases its analysis on the number of formal notices filed against a property during the foreclosure process. That can include notice of default, notice of foreclosure auction, and trustee’s deeds/REOs (real estate owned by lender through foreclosure).
In the first quarter, 2.8 of every 1,000 households ended up back in lenders hands, up from 2.7 in the fourth quarter 2007 (213,927 1st quarter filings vs. 197,736 in 4th quarter 2007), according to Foreclosures.com.
Quarter over quarter, 17 states actually had fewer REO filings in April, the company says.
“That’s the good news. The bad news is that still 3.8 of every 1,000 households nationwide (288,497 REO filings) have been lost to foreclosure so far this year,” says Ms. McGee. “Another 696,925 pre-foreclosure filings -- 9.4 of every 1,000 households — have been recorded year-to-date with 179,046 filings in April.”
States with the most REO filings by household through April include: Mississippi (17.2 for every 1,000 households; 885 filings), Arizona (12.6 per 1,000; 23,841 filings), Nevada (11.3 per 1,000; 8,233 filings), Colorado (7.5 per 1,000; 11,721 filings), and Michigan (6.7 per 1,000; 20,069 filings).
States with the highest number of REO filings 2008 through April: California, 70,863 filings (6.2 per 1,000 households); Florida, 24,764 (4 per 1,000); Arizona, 23,841 (12.6 per 1,000); Texas, 22,521 (3.8 per 1,000), and Michigan, 20,069 (6.7 per 1,000). Among these top five, quarter over quarter the number of filings dropped in Texas (17,042 1st quarter ’08 vs. 19,573 4th quarter ’07) and in Michigan (14,749 vs. 16,986).
States with the most pre-foreclosure filings by household YTD include: Nevada, 31.5 per 1,000 households (23,264 filings); Arizona, 28.7 per 1,000 (54,059 filings); Florida, 25.6 per 1,000 (162,316 filings, leading the nation in filings); California, 13.9 per 1,000 (160,044 filings), and New Jersey, 9.6 per 1,000 (28,825 filings). (All these states are among the top 10 in numbers of filings, with March to April numbers down in Nevada and California— down 24.68 percent and 17.58 percent respectively.)
Lenders repossessed 74,570 homes following foreclosure in April, down more than 5 percent from March, according to figures from Foreclosures.com of Fair Oaks. April pre-foreclosures dropped 7.52 percent from March.
“The sky isn’t falling and the bottom of the housing market is in sight,” says Alexis McGee, president of Foreclosures.com.
The company bases its analysis on the number of formal notices filed against a property during the foreclosure process. That can include notice of default, notice of foreclosure auction, and trustee’s deeds/REOs (real estate owned by lender through foreclosure).
In the first quarter, 2.8 of every 1,000 households ended up back in lenders hands, up from 2.7 in the fourth quarter 2007 (213,927 1st quarter filings vs. 197,736 in 4th quarter 2007), according to Foreclosures.com.
Quarter over quarter, 17 states actually had fewer REO filings in April, the company says.
“That’s the good news. The bad news is that still 3.8 of every 1,000 households nationwide (288,497 REO filings) have been lost to foreclosure so far this year,” says Ms. McGee. “Another 696,925 pre-foreclosure filings -- 9.4 of every 1,000 households — have been recorded year-to-date with 179,046 filings in April.”
States with the most REO filings by household through April include: Mississippi (17.2 for every 1,000 households; 885 filings), Arizona (12.6 per 1,000; 23,841 filings), Nevada (11.3 per 1,000; 8,233 filings), Colorado (7.5 per 1,000; 11,721 filings), and Michigan (6.7 per 1,000; 20,069 filings).
States with the highest number of REO filings 2008 through April: California, 70,863 filings (6.2 per 1,000 households); Florida, 24,764 (4 per 1,000); Arizona, 23,841 (12.6 per 1,000); Texas, 22,521 (3.8 per 1,000), and Michigan, 20,069 (6.7 per 1,000). Among these top five, quarter over quarter the number of filings dropped in Texas (17,042 1st quarter ’08 vs. 19,573 4th quarter ’07) and in Michigan (14,749 vs. 16,986).
States with the most pre-foreclosure filings by household YTD include: Nevada, 31.5 per 1,000 households (23,264 filings); Arizona, 28.7 per 1,000 (54,059 filings); Florida, 25.6 per 1,000 (162,316 filings, leading the nation in filings); California, 13.9 per 1,000 (160,044 filings), and New Jersey, 9.6 per 1,000 (28,825 filings). (All these states are among the top 10 in numbers of filings, with March to April numbers down in Nevada and California— down 24.68 percent and 17.58 percent respectively.)
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The truth about interest rates and why NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!
Real Estate buyers are usually highly focused on the purchase price of a property. This is a legitimate concern. The purchase price is one of the most important considerations in a real estate transaction. But at the same time home buyers too frequently treat interest rates as a secondary concern. Many buyers will stress over $300 or $400 in negotiations over purchase price. But when told that interest rates dropped half a point, home buyers will often respond with a shrug.
This is frequently because it is easy to understand the difference between paying 200k and 195k for a house. But it's harder to appreciate the difference between an interest rate of 6.5% and 6.0% for a house. But interest rates can have a large influence on mortgage payments. Using a mortgage calculator first let's look at the difference between the mortgage on a 200k and the mortgage on a 195k house assuming a 6.5 percent interest rate.
200k (6.5%) Mortgage $1264.13 per month
195k (6.5%) Mortgage $1232.53 per month
The difference ends up being $31.60 a month.
Now let's look at the difference between an interest rate of 6.5% and 6.0% on a 200k house.
200k (6.5%) Mortgage 1264.13 per month
200k (6.0%) Mortgage 1199.10 per month
The difference ends up being $65.03 a month or $780.36 a year. A simple half point drop lowered the mortgage payment by 5.4 percent.
Interest rate changes are not that uncommon. We wrote a tool that graphs mortgage rates over time based on the interest rates provided by Freddie Mac. In the middle of 2007 we saw interest rates of 6.7%. At the beginning of 2008, interest rates were down to 5.75%. What is a little more interesting is when we switch the toggle on our tool from the interest rate to the mortgage on a 200k house based on the interest rate for that date http://www.escapesomewhere.com/blogim/mortgage_rates_broker.jpg. From the middle of 2007 to the beginning of 2008, we saw a drop in the monthly mortgage payment on a 200k house drop from $1290 to $1170, a difference of 9.3 percent. This is why when buyers say they are waiting for prices to drop 5%, it might be a good idea to tell them that the actual mortgage they would get on a house has already dropped by more than 5 percent.
In light of all the mortgage issues over the last few years, it highlights why home buyers should shop around for interest rates. All too frequently home buyers will go with the first mortgage person they meet under the assumption that everyone has roughly the same rates and that a half point isn't really that big of a difference. As we have seen above, a half point can make a significant difference in someone's mortgage payment.
In summary, home buyers should still focus on price because it will always be an important part of the real estate transaction. But if home buyers start to look at interest rates more closely, they will end up with more success in their real estate purchases and lower mortgage payments.
This is frequently because it is easy to understand the difference between paying 200k and 195k for a house. But it's harder to appreciate the difference between an interest rate of 6.5% and 6.0% for a house. But interest rates can have a large influence on mortgage payments. Using a mortgage calculator first let's look at the difference between the mortgage on a 200k and the mortgage on a 195k house assuming a 6.5 percent interest rate.
200k (6.5%) Mortgage $1264.13 per month
195k (6.5%) Mortgage $1232.53 per month
The difference ends up being $31.60 a month.
Now let's look at the difference between an interest rate of 6.5% and 6.0% on a 200k house.
200k (6.5%) Mortgage 1264.13 per month
200k (6.0%) Mortgage 1199.10 per month
The difference ends up being $65.03 a month or $780.36 a year. A simple half point drop lowered the mortgage payment by 5.4 percent.
Interest rate changes are not that uncommon. We wrote a tool that graphs mortgage rates over time based on the interest rates provided by Freddie Mac. In the middle of 2007 we saw interest rates of 6.7%. At the beginning of 2008, interest rates were down to 5.75%. What is a little more interesting is when we switch the toggle on our tool from the interest rate to the mortgage on a 200k house based on the interest rate for that date http://www.escapesomewhere.com/blogim/mortgage_rates_broker.jpg. From the middle of 2007 to the beginning of 2008, we saw a drop in the monthly mortgage payment on a 200k house drop from $1290 to $1170, a difference of 9.3 percent. This is why when buyers say they are waiting for prices to drop 5%, it might be a good idea to tell them that the actual mortgage they would get on a house has already dropped by more than 5 percent.
In light of all the mortgage issues over the last few years, it highlights why home buyers should shop around for interest rates. All too frequently home buyers will go with the first mortgage person they meet under the assumption that everyone has roughly the same rates and that a half point isn't really that big of a difference. As we have seen above, a half point can make a significant difference in someone's mortgage payment.
In summary, home buyers should still focus on price because it will always be an important part of the real estate transaction. But if home buyers start to look at interest rates more closely, they will end up with more success in their real estate purchases and lower mortgage payments.
Is Relief around the corner? Foreclosures slow in Central Valley
The pace of home foreclosures in most of the Central Valley slowed in March, according to new figures from Default Research Inc. of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., a seller of foreclosure real estate data.
Some counties saw declines last month compared to February and where there were increases, they were generally small.
According to Default Research, the hardest hit areas currently are San Joaquin and Sacramento counties with over 5.5 percent of homes entering foreclosure, in terms of Notices of Default and Notices of Trustee Sales, which the company tracks.
There were 3,495 homes in the foreclosure process in March in Sacramento County, according to the report. That’s triple the number in March 2007 and 5.56 percent more than in February.
But San Joaquin County, with 1,552 homes entering foreclosure in March, actually saw improvement for the first time in 2008. There were 1,900 homes in foreclosure in February and 2,420 in January. In March 2007 there were 694 homes entering foreclosure, Default Research says.
Fresno County also saw a month-over-month drop. There were 1,136 homes entering foreclosure last month compared to 1,169 in February and 1,297 in January. In March 2007, however, there were just 377 homes in Fresno County entering foreclosure.
Kern County saw a 0.75 percent increase in foreclosures in March compared to February. That percentage increase works out to a difference of 12 homes – 1,610 last month and 1,598 in February.
Nine more homes went into foreclosure last month in Stanislaus County (1,146) than in February (1,137), according to the figures from Default Research, for an increase of 0.79 percent.
Tulare County showed one of the sharpest percentage declines. There were 416 homes entering foreclosure last month, compared to 450 in February, a 7.56 percent decrease. Last month’s total, however, was 195 percent higher than a year earlier.
“You really couldn’t ask for a better opportunity or better place like Northern California to be a real estate investor,” says Serdar Bankaci, founder of Default Research. “If you have the cash or credit, this is the time to buy. For all practical reasons, the foreclosures in Northern California have bottomed out and will begin to recover throughout this year. Also, Northern California has seen a drop in unemployment in February, and a higher rate of employment means fewer mortgage defaults.”
Some counties saw declines last month compared to February and where there were increases, they were generally small.
According to Default Research, the hardest hit areas currently are San Joaquin and Sacramento counties with over 5.5 percent of homes entering foreclosure, in terms of Notices of Default and Notices of Trustee Sales, which the company tracks.
There were 3,495 homes in the foreclosure process in March in Sacramento County, according to the report. That’s triple the number in March 2007 and 5.56 percent more than in February.
But San Joaquin County, with 1,552 homes entering foreclosure in March, actually saw improvement for the first time in 2008. There were 1,900 homes in foreclosure in February and 2,420 in January. In March 2007 there were 694 homes entering foreclosure, Default Research says.
Fresno County also saw a month-over-month drop. There were 1,136 homes entering foreclosure last month compared to 1,169 in February and 1,297 in January. In March 2007, however, there were just 377 homes in Fresno County entering foreclosure.
Kern County saw a 0.75 percent increase in foreclosures in March compared to February. That percentage increase works out to a difference of 12 homes – 1,610 last month and 1,598 in February.
Nine more homes went into foreclosure last month in Stanislaus County (1,146) than in February (1,137), according to the figures from Default Research, for an increase of 0.79 percent.
Tulare County showed one of the sharpest percentage declines. There were 416 homes entering foreclosure last month, compared to 450 in February, a 7.56 percent decrease. Last month’s total, however, was 195 percent higher than a year earlier.
“You really couldn’t ask for a better opportunity or better place like Northern California to be a real estate investor,” says Serdar Bankaci, founder of Default Research. “If you have the cash or credit, this is the time to buy. For all practical reasons, the foreclosures in Northern California have bottomed out and will begin to recover throughout this year. Also, Northern California has seen a drop in unemployment in February, and a higher rate of employment means fewer mortgage defaults.”
Is Relief around the corner? Foreclosures slow in Central Valley
The pace of home foreclosures in most of the Central Valley slowed in March, according to new figures from Default Research Inc. of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., a seller of foreclosure real estate data.
Some counties saw declines last month compared to February and where there were increases, they were generally small.
According to Default Research, the hardest hit areas currently are San Joaquin and Sacramento counties with over 5.5 percent of homes entering foreclosure, in terms of Notices of Default and Notices of Trustee Sales, which the company tracks.
There were 3,495 homes in the foreclosure process in March in Sacramento County, according to the report. That’s triple the number in March 2007 and 5.56 percent more than in February.
But San Joaquin County, with 1,552 homes entering foreclosure in March, actually saw improvement for the first time in 2008. There were 1,900 homes in foreclosure in February and 2,420 in January. In March 2007 there were 694 homes entering foreclosure, Default Research says.
Fresno County also saw a month-over-month drop. There were 1,136 homes entering foreclosure last month compared to 1,169 in February and 1,297 in January. In March 2007, however, there were just 377 homes in Fresno County entering foreclosure.
Kern County saw a 0.75 percent increase in foreclosures in March compared to February. That percentage increase works out to a difference of 12 homes – 1,610 last month and 1,598 in February.
Nine more homes went into foreclosure last month in Stanislaus County (1,146) than in February (1,137), according to the figures from Default Research, for an increase of 0.79 percent.
Tulare County showed one of the sharpest percentage declines. There were 416 homes entering foreclosure last month, compared to 450 in February, a 7.56 percent decrease. Last month’s total, however, was 195 percent higher than a year earlier.
“You really couldn’t ask for a better opportunity or better place like Northern California to be a real estate investor,” says Serdar Bankaci, founder of Default Research. “If you have the cash or credit, this is the time to buy. For all practical reasons, the foreclosures in Northern California have bottomed out and will begin to recover throughout this year. Also, Northern California has seen a drop in unemployment in February, and a higher rate of employment means fewer mortgage defaults.”
Some counties saw declines last month compared to February and where there were increases, they were generally small.
According to Default Research, the hardest hit areas currently are San Joaquin and Sacramento counties with over 5.5 percent of homes entering foreclosure, in terms of Notices of Default and Notices of Trustee Sales, which the company tracks.
There were 3,495 homes in the foreclosure process in March in Sacramento County, according to the report. That’s triple the number in March 2007 and 5.56 percent more than in February.
But San Joaquin County, with 1,552 homes entering foreclosure in March, actually saw improvement for the first time in 2008. There were 1,900 homes in foreclosure in February and 2,420 in January. In March 2007 there were 694 homes entering foreclosure, Default Research says.
Fresno County also saw a month-over-month drop. There were 1,136 homes entering foreclosure last month compared to 1,169 in February and 1,297 in January. In March 2007, however, there were just 377 homes in Fresno County entering foreclosure.
Kern County saw a 0.75 percent increase in foreclosures in March compared to February. That percentage increase works out to a difference of 12 homes – 1,610 last month and 1,598 in February.
Nine more homes went into foreclosure last month in Stanislaus County (1,146) than in February (1,137), according to the figures from Default Research, for an increase of 0.79 percent.
Tulare County showed one of the sharpest percentage declines. There were 416 homes entering foreclosure last month, compared to 450 in February, a 7.56 percent decrease. Last month’s total, however, was 195 percent higher than a year earlier.
“You really couldn’t ask for a better opportunity or better place like Northern California to be a real estate investor,” says Serdar Bankaci, founder of Default Research. “If you have the cash or credit, this is the time to buy. For all practical reasons, the foreclosures in Northern California have bottomed out and will begin to recover throughout this year. Also, Northern California has seen a drop in unemployment in February, and a higher rate of employment means fewer mortgage defaults.”
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Some Helpful Mold Tips
If a basement is musty, if there are black, green or purple blotches on or behind the walls and ceiling tile, or if there is any kind of growth thriving under the carpets or rugs, then the home is probably living side-by-side with a colony of mold.
This is a potential health danger for any family and also a legal liability for you and your clients.
Because of the fear over mold contamination there are so many lawsuits flying around today that sales of resale homes are in jeopardy -- and insurance companies are scrambling to avoid liability, with some U.S. insurers refusing to write any new homeowner policies.
So what do you need to know about mold to best serve your clients and keep yourself out of trouble?
Molds are everywhere and have been around forever.
Many people have the impression that this is a new problem -- think, "Attack of the killer molds!" -- and that we now must arm ourselves against the impending invasion. Nothing has changed, however, but the awareness of the presence of mold. Instead of fear -- we need to focus on total elimination, prevention and control. This is easy: Sunlight and ventilation are key.
Use common sense in your approach to mold.
Examples of common sense? Reduce indoor humidity 30 to 60 percent by venting bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increase ventilation; use exhaust fans for cooking, dishwashing, cleaning. Also, reduce condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation (windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, floors, etc.).
Excessive exposure can cause symptoms in anyone. Asthmatics and other people with sensitivities (such as infants and the elderly) will be particularly prone to increased asthma attacks, even with moderate exposure to molds. In particular, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders should be particularly wary of molds. Be aware of their conditions and take the necessary precautions.
You cannot spot the feared "Toxic" or "Black" mold simply by looking at it.
Most molds are black or dark green in color and the only way to determine its type is through laboratory testing. This type of mold is also known by its technical names of Stachybotrys Chartarum, or Stachybotrys atra.
Most of the media attention surrounding Stachybotrys is overblown.
In statements surrounding mold in residential construction, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not believe that there is not any difference between Stachybotrys and any other mold. It just so happens that since this mold may grow more commonly on building materials, it is the one that happens to be most present in most homes. It's not any more toxic than other molds and the steps taken to remediate Stachybotrys should be the same as that for any other mold presence.
Mold can be cleaned and corrected.
If you find mold on a hard, non-porous surface, it can be cleaned with a 1:16 bleach to water solution (only after first opening a window and wearing non-porous gloves and protective eyewear) as long as the area is less than 10 ft 2 in.
If more than 10 ft 2 in needs to be cleaned, consult the EPA's guide titled, "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" (You can also get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318). If the affected material is porous, it should be removed and thrown away. If the porous material mold is extensive, you should contact professionals to gather and remove.
Lastly, NEVER and I mean NEVER mix household cleaners. Mixed chemicals can make toxic combinations.
Always get the home professionally inspected.
While the information in this article is good and it's always smart to arm yourself with enough information to properly handle any situation, you are not to be mistaken as the mold expert. A professional home inspector will bear the responsibility of the mechanical, structural, and in most cases the environmental conditions of the home once they are hired by the client, releasing you from that burden. The inspector will assess the situation and put it into the proper prospective (believe it or not, I have seen a big deal made from some mold on a wall because some water was spilled from a fish tank when the home was vacated) for both you and your clients and make the call to refer it to the professionals if a "Red Flag" is discovered.
This is a potential health danger for any family and also a legal liability for you and your clients.
Because of the fear over mold contamination there are so many lawsuits flying around today that sales of resale homes are in jeopardy -- and insurance companies are scrambling to avoid liability, with some U.S. insurers refusing to write any new homeowner policies.
So what do you need to know about mold to best serve your clients and keep yourself out of trouble?
Molds are everywhere and have been around forever.
Many people have the impression that this is a new problem -- think, "Attack of the killer molds!" -- and that we now must arm ourselves against the impending invasion. Nothing has changed, however, but the awareness of the presence of mold. Instead of fear -- we need to focus on total elimination, prevention and control. This is easy: Sunlight and ventilation are key.
Use common sense in your approach to mold.
Examples of common sense? Reduce indoor humidity 30 to 60 percent by venting bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increase ventilation; use exhaust fans for cooking, dishwashing, cleaning. Also, reduce condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation (windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, floors, etc.).
Excessive exposure can cause symptoms in anyone. Asthmatics and other people with sensitivities (such as infants and the elderly) will be particularly prone to increased asthma attacks, even with moderate exposure to molds. In particular, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders should be particularly wary of molds. Be aware of their conditions and take the necessary precautions.
You cannot spot the feared "Toxic" or "Black" mold simply by looking at it.
Most molds are black or dark green in color and the only way to determine its type is through laboratory testing. This type of mold is also known by its technical names of Stachybotrys Chartarum, or Stachybotrys atra.
Most of the media attention surrounding Stachybotrys is overblown.
In statements surrounding mold in residential construction, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not believe that there is not any difference between Stachybotrys and any other mold. It just so happens that since this mold may grow more commonly on building materials, it is the one that happens to be most present in most homes. It's not any more toxic than other molds and the steps taken to remediate Stachybotrys should be the same as that for any other mold presence.
Mold can be cleaned and corrected.
If you find mold on a hard, non-porous surface, it can be cleaned with a 1:16 bleach to water solution (only after first opening a window and wearing non-porous gloves and protective eyewear) as long as the area is less than 10 ft 2 in.
If more than 10 ft 2 in needs to be cleaned, consult the EPA's guide titled, "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" (You can also get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318). If the affected material is porous, it should be removed and thrown away. If the porous material mold is extensive, you should contact professionals to gather and remove.
Lastly, NEVER and I mean NEVER mix household cleaners. Mixed chemicals can make toxic combinations.
Always get the home professionally inspected.
While the information in this article is good and it's always smart to arm yourself with enough information to properly handle any situation, you are not to be mistaken as the mold expert. A professional home inspector will bear the responsibility of the mechanical, structural, and in most cases the environmental conditions of the home once they are hired by the client, releasing you from that burden. The inspector will assess the situation and put it into the proper prospective (believe it or not, I have seen a big deal made from some mold on a wall because some water was spilled from a fish tank when the home was vacated) for both you and your clients and make the call to refer it to the professionals if a "Red Flag" is discovered.
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